Latch and latch bolt



NOV. 30, 1954 R RAPER 2,695,805

LATCH AND LATCH BOLT Filed July 27, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2d 2 52' EP K W Z6' INVENTOR RICHARD RA?! l3 1 54 141,04 {14 United States Patent LATCH AND LATCH BOLT Richard Raper, Wheeling, W. Va., assignor to Wheeling Steel Corporation, Wheeling, W. Va., a corporation of Delaware Application July 27, 1951, Serial No. 238,968

8 Claims. (Cl. 292-244) This invention relates to latches and more particularly to latches adapted to be employed in doors and to bolts for such latches. The invention comprises improvements in latches and latch bolts which enhance their utility and increase their adaptability.

In the design of structures employing doorways with doors mounted at the doorways for movement between open and closed positions it has been customary to completely design the structure even as to the side of the doorway at which the door is to be mounted and the direction in which the door is to swing or slide toward closed position and parts adapted specifically for the particular installation as designed have been specified. However, there are occasions when it is desired to postpone determination as to just how doors are to be mounted relatively to their respective doorways until near completion of the structure. This is especially true in respect of industrial structures such as shop partitions and the like. It may be diflicult to determine at the time of designing a shop partition just how each door should be mounted, i. e., whether it should be a sliding door or a swinging door, if a sliding door toward which side of the doorway it should open and if a swinging door to which side of the doorway it should be hinged and in Which direction it should swing when being opened. Yet heretofore it has been considered necessary to initially completely design the structure even to the type of each door and the relationship to the doorway in which the door is mounted. This has made it difficult or impossible to mount doors differently than in accordance with the original design when near completion of the structure it appears that the original design was not in all respects desirable insofar as the types of doors selected and the relationship to their respective doorways in which they were designed to be mounted are concerned.

I have devised a latch which is universally adaptable for sliding and swinging doors, for right-hand and lefthand doors and for doors which if of the swinging type swing either inwardly or outwardly. Use of my latch makes it possible to postpone until near completion of a structure determination of the question as to how each door is to be hung yet without incurring delay in obtaining special latches when the determination has been made.

I provide a latch comprising a casing comprising opposed casing members each having an opening therethrough to receive a portion of a bolt operating device, two bolt operating devices, one having 'a portion received within the opening of one of the casing members and the other having a portion received within the opening of the other of the casing members so that one of the bolt operating devices is operable from the outside of one face of the casing and the other of the bolt operating devices is operable from the outside of the other face of the casing, the respective bolt operating devices being in non-opposed relationship to each other, and a bolt disposed between the opposed casing members and adapted to project from between the opposed casing members, the bolt operating devices intersecting the bolt and each of the bolt operating devices being disposed in operative relationship with respect to the bolt to operate the bolt when the bolt operating device is operated. I further provide a latch comprising a casing and a bolt adapted to be mounted in the casing selectively for generally rectilinear and angular movement, the bolt having a body and having latching portions connected with the body and projecting therefrom in opposite directions, one of the latching portions having a hook, the bolt and the casing having cooperating means whereby the bolt may be mounted in the casing for pivotal movement in the plane of the hook. Preferably the bolt is reversible end-for-end in the casing and the casing has means cooperable with the bolt in each position of the bolt in the casing for pivotally mounting the bolt in the casing. The bolt preferably has means projecting into the path of movement of the bolt operating means whereby the bolt is operated upon movement of the bolt operating means whether the bolt is mounted in the casing for generally rectilinear movement or for angular movement.

I desirably provide two bolt operating devices carried by the casing and extending inwardly from opposite faces thereof respectively to engage and operate the bolt, each of the devices having means operating the bolt upon operation of the device when the bolt is mounted in the casing for generally rectilinear movement and means operating the bolt upon operation of the device when the bolt is mounted for angular movement. The bolt is preferably adapted to be positioned in the casing with either face of the bolt disposed toward either face of the casing whereby the latch may be adapted for application to doors mounted to be opened in different directions. Two bolt operating devices are preferably carried by the casing and extend inwardly from opposite faces thereof respectively to engage and operate the bolt in each of said positions in the casing and whether mounted in the casing for generally rectilinear or angular movement. Each of the bolt operating devices preferably has means operating the bolt upon operation of the device when the bolt is mounted in the casing for generally rectilinear movement and means operating the bolt upon operation of the device when the bolt is mounted in the casing for angular movement.

I further provide a latch comprising a casing, a bolt therein, a cylinder lock case mounted in the casing, the cylinder lock case having a bore normally for receiving a lock cylinder, a spindle rotatably mounted in the bore, an exterior handle for turning the spindle and a bolt operating cam connected with the spindle and disposed in the casing in operative relationship to the bolt so that turning of the handle operates the bolt. Cylinder lock cases are preferably mounted in the casing at opposite sides thereof with bolt operating cams at the inner ends thereof and in operative relationship to the bolt and a lock cylinder and a spindle are preferably selectively insertable into the cylinder lock cases into operative relationship with the respective bolt operating cams providing selectively for key operation of the latch from one side and free operation of the latch from the other side.

I further provide a latch bolt comprising a body and latching portions connected with the body and projecting therefrom in opposite directions, the latching portions having respectively cam surfaces for camming back the bolt prior to operative projection thereof, the cam surfaces being respectively inclined to planes at right angles to each other. In a preferred form of structure one only of the latching portions has a hook. The bolt desirably has means remote from the hook for mounting the bolt for pivotal movement in the plane of the hook.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure l is a face view of a latch;

Figure 2 is a face view of the latch shown in Figure 1 viewed from the opposite face;

Figure 3 is an end view of the latch shown in Figures 1 and 2 as viewed from the right in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an end view of the latch shown in Figures 1-3 as viewed from the right in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an edge View of the latch shown in Figures 1-4 as viewed from the top in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure l with portions cut away to show the interior structure, the bolt being mounted for generally rectilinear movement and being shown in projected position;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the bolt retracted;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 but with the bolt mounted for angular instead of generally rectilinear movement, the bolt being shown in its lower or operative position;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the bolt in its uptilted or inoperative position;

Figure 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line XX of Figure 6;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the bolt;

Figure 12 is a face view of one of the two opposed casing members; and

Figure 13 is an end view of the casing member shown in Figure 12 as viewed from the right in that figure.

The latch casing is designated generally by reference numeral 2 and comprises two identical opposed casing members 2a and 21;. Figures 12 and 13 show the structure of the casing member 2a and since the casing members 2a and 2b are identical Figures 12 and 13 also show the structure of the casing member 2b. Each of such casing members is made out of sheet or plate metal and comprises a generally planar body portion 3 of generally elongated rectangular shape having at each end adjacent each longitudinal edge a flange integral with the body portion and turned at right angles thereto. Thus there are four such flanges on each casing member. The flanges at one end of the casing member are of the same shape as each other and the flanges at the opposite end of the casing member are of the same shape as each other and of the same shape as the flanges at the first mentioned end except for an added projection to which reference will be made below whose purpose is to provide an anchor for a coil spring biasing the bolt. The flanges at one end of the casing member are designated 4, each being of generally rectangular shape but having a circular hole 5 therethrough and having a recess 6 in the edge thereof which forms a continuation of the corresponding longitudinal edge of the body portion 3. The flanges at the other end of the casing member are designated 4 and are identical with the flanges 4 except that each flange 4 has an added projection 7 projecting into the recess thereof which corresponds to the recess 6 of each of the flanges 4. The function of each of the projections 7 is to provide an anchor for a coil spring biasing the bolt as will appear below.

Each of the casing members 2a and 2b has a pair of longitudinal parallel slots 8 in each end thereof extend ing parallel to the longitudinal edges of the casing member and providing therebetween a tongue 9. Each of the tongues 9 is integral with the body portion but is deformed out of the plane of the body portion and is itself generally planar and lies in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the body portion disposed at the side of the body portion toward which the flanges 4 and 4 project. Each tongue 9 has two circular holes 10 therethrough.

Each of the casing members 2a and 2!? has formed therein closer to one of its ends than to the other end a circular depression 11 and through the depression 11 is formed an opening 12 of generally elongated shape with straight sides 13 extending generally parallel to the short dimension of the casing member and curved ends 14 joining the straight sides as clearly shown in Figure 12.

In assembling the casing the two identical casing members 2a and 2b are disposed with their flanges 4 and 4' toward each other and with the openings 12 in nonopposed relation. This results in the flanges 4 of each of the casing members being opposed to the flanges 4' of the other casing member. The casing members are brought together so that the flanges of one overlap the flanges of the other and they are fastened together by bolts 15 passing through the holes 5 of the overlapped flanges and having nuts 16 applied thereto. Thus there is formed by the use solely of two identical casing members, four bolts and four nuts, a latch casing which has an inner space for containing the latch bolt and bolt operating mechanism and an opening at each end (formed between the opposed faces of the respective tongues 9 and between the inner edges of the respective flanges 4 and 4') so that the bolt may have its operative end projecting selectively through either end of the casing. There is applied to the end of the casing through which the operative end of the bolt projects a plate 17 which is an elongated rectangular plate of sheet or plate metal having through the center thereof a rectangular opening 18 through which the operative end of the bolt is adapted to extend and also having therethrough an inner pair of bolt holes 19 and an outer pair of bolt holes 20. The inner pair of bolt holes 19 have the same spacing as the holes 5 of the casing members 2a and 211. When the casing members 20 and 2b are assembled the bolts 15 which hold them together at one end also pass through the bolt holes 19 of the plate 17 and thus attach and hold in place to the casing the plate 117. When the casing members 211 and 2b and the plate 17 are assembled the flanges 4 and 4 of the casing members are so disposed relatively to each other that the plate 17 lies against the flanges 4 of one of the casing members. When the casing members are assembled the flanges 4 having the added projections 7 are disposed toward the inside of the casing relatively to the flanges 4. The bolt holes 29 are for bolting the latch to the door to which it is to be applied. When the latch is applied to the door it is inserted into a suitable recess provided in the door with the plate 17 disposed at the edge of the door and extending beyond the recess so that at taching bolts passing through the bolt holes 20 also pass through a portion of the door to hold the latch in place relatively to the door. Screws instead of bolts may be used for fastening the latch to the door.

The latch bolt is shown in perspective in Figure 11. It is designated generally by reference numeral 21 and comprises a body 22 having latching portions 23 and 24 respectively connected therewith and projecting therefrom in opposite directions. The latching portions 23 and 24 are of different construction and are selectively usable as the operative portion of the bolt depending upon whether the bolt is mounted in the casing for sliding movement or for swinging movement. When the bolt is mounted in the casing for sliding movement the latching portion 23 is the operative portion of the bolt. When the bolt is mounted in the casing for swinging movement the latching portion 24 is the operative portion of the bolt. The bolt is mounted in the casing for sliding movement when the latch is used in a swinging or hinged door and the bolt is mounted in the casing for swinging movement when the latch is used in a sliding door. The latching portion 23 has an inclined end face 25 which when the bolt is disposed in generally horizontal position is oriented substantially vertically, which is characteristic of sliding bolts used in swinging doors. The inclined end face 25 is adapted to engage a portion of the door frame when the door is swung shut, such engagement resulting in camming back the bolt until the door reaches ful y closed position when the bolt is projected by its spring behind the portion of the frame referred to to maintain the door closed. The latching portion 24 has an inclined end face 26 which when the bolt is disposed in generally horizontal position is oriented at an angle to the vertical, which is characteristic of swinging bolts used in sliding doors. The inclined end face 26 is adapted to engage a portion of the door frame when the door is slid shut, such engagement resulting in tilting the bolt until the door re ches fully closed position when the bolt is swung down either by its spring or by gravity or both so that the hook portion 27 thereof lies behind the portion of the frame referred to to maintain the door closed.

Through the body portion 22 of the bolt are two openings 28 and 29 respectively. The openings 28 and 29 are separated from each other by a rib 30 through which passes a pin 31 projecting at both faces of the bolt as shown in Figure 11. Considering the bolt to be oriented horizontally and disposed in a generally vertical plane as indicated in Figure 11, a pin 32 integral with the bolt is disposed at the edge of the bolt above the pin 31 and a pin 33 integral with the bolt is disposed at the edge of the bolt below the pin 31, the pin 32 projecting past only one face of the bolt while the pin 33 projects past only the opposite face of the bolt. At the edge of the bolt at which the pin 32 is disposed and positioned so that the pin 32 lies therebetween are pins 34 and 35 integral with the bolt which project past only the face of the bolt opposite the face past which the pin 32 projects. At the edge of the bolt at which the pin 33 is disposed and positioned so that the pin 33 lies therebetween are pins 36 and 37 integral with the bolt which project past only the face of the bolt opposite the face past which the pin 33 projects. Thus the pins 31, 32, 36 and 37 project past one face of the bolt while the pins 31, 33, 34 and 35 project past the opposite face of the bolt. All of the pins project substantially the same distance beyond the respective faces of the bolt. The total length of the pin 31 is slightly less than the distance between the inner faces of the body portions 3 of the casing members 2a and 212 when they are assembled as above described. The thickness of the body portion 22 and the latching portions 23 and 24 of the bolt in the direction parallel to the axes of the pins is. slightly less than the distance between the inner faces of the opposed tongues 9 of the casing members. Thus the bolt is by the pins which are disposed between the inner faces of the body portions 3 of the casing members 211 and 2b and the latching portions 2 3 and 24 which are disposed between the opposed tongues 9 maintained generally in operative orientation within the casing. The bolt 21 may be cast, in which case the pins El, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 may be cast integral therewith.

The bolt is adapted to be operated by either of two identical cams 38 of sheet or plate metal, the cams 38 having the shape shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9. Each thereof has aprojection 38a extending in one direction and i of the opening 12 and the portion of the case 39 passing a projection 33!) extending in the opposite direction, the projection 38b having opposed operating corner portions 38c and 38d respectively. Each cam 38 has generally centrally located a generally keyhole-shaped cutout 38c.

The respective cams 38 are positioned within the casing so that one thereof lies against one face of the bolt and the other thereof lies against the other face of the bolt.

There is mounted in each of the openings 12 a cylinder lock case 3@ having the usual provision for lock tumblers and the usual cylindrical bore 4ft into which a bolt operating device may be inserted. The bolt operating device may be a lock cylinder or it may be a device other than a lock cylinder such as the knob 41 having a reduced cylindrical shank 42 rotatably received within the bore 443. When the bolt operating device is a lock cylinder the cylinder and the case 39 are provided with the usual tumblers so that the cylinders may be turned only by the use of a key shaped to operate the tumblers to permit turning of the cylinder as well known to those skilled in the lock art.

As will be understood from what is stated above, it is optional Whether provision be made to operate the bolt by a lock cylinder or operating means other than a lock cylinder from either side of the door. Lock cylinders may be used at both sides of the door or operating devices other than lock cylinders may be used at both sides of the door or a lock cylinder may be used at one side of the door and a device other than a lock cylinder at the opposite side of the door. In the drawings the knob 41 which requires no key for its operation is used at one side of the door and a lock cylinder 43 which requires a key for its operation is used at the other side of the door.

Referring to Figure 10, a cam turning device 44 cooperates with the knob 41. The cam turning device 44 comprises a generally plate-like portion 45 of generally 5).;

keyhole shape and a generally cylindrical portion as integral therewith and projecting in one direction therefrom, the portion 46 being adapted to have an operating fit within the bore 40 of the case 39 with which the knob 41 is used. The portion 46 of the cam turning device 44 enters the bore 40 from the inside of the case. In the extremity of the portion 4-6 are two intersecting cross slots 47 adapted selectively to receive a projection 48 at the inner end of the shank 42 of the knob 41 so that when the cam turning device 44 is applied to the bore 40 from the inside of the case and the knob 41 is applied to the bore 40 from the outside of the case the knob will be operatively connected with the cam turning device to turn the same when the knob is turned. The projection 48 of the knob enters only one of the cross slots 47 of the device 44. When a round knob is used it is immaterial which cross slot the projection 48 enters. However, instead of using a round knob a lever type knob or handle may be used and the orientation of the lever will be determined by which of the slots in the cam turning device the projection at the inner end of the lever shank enters. If it is desired that the lever be normally oriented in generally horiz sntal position the projection will enter one slot while if it is desired that the lever be normally oriented in generally vertical position the projection enters the other slot.

The knob 41 has therethrough a bore 49 enlarged adjacent the outer end of the knob as indicated at 50. The cam turning device 44 has a threaded bore 51. When the parts have been assembled as above described so that the projection 48 of the knob enters one of the cross slots 47 of the cam turning device 44 a screw 52 is in troduced through the bore 49 and threaded into the bore 51 to maintain the knob 41 and the device 44 assembled, the head 53 of the screw being concealed within the enlarged outer portion 50 of the bore. The portion 45'v of the cam turning device 44 is, as above mentioned, of generally keyhole shape and is adapted to snugly enter the cutout 332 of one of the cams A similar generally keyhole-shaped plate is applied to the inner end of the lock cylinder 43, as by being screwed or otherwise fastened in non-rotative relation thereto, and is adapted to snugly enter the cutout Ede of the other cam 38. Each of the cases 3% has an outer circular flange 54 substantially filling the circular depression ll of the casing memher to which it is applied and the body of the case is shaped to snugly fit within the opening 12 and is maintained in place by a nut 55 threaded onto the inner end thereof and turned up against the inner face of the casing at the depression fill. The conforming non-circular shape therethrough holds the case against turning relatively to. the lock casing 2.

Each of the bolt operating devices passes tl rough one of the openings 28 and 29 of the bolt 2f, the accessible portion thereof (the knob 41 or lock cylinder as the case may be) being at one face of the casing 2 while the cam 38 operated thereby is at the opposite face of the casing. In other words, each of the bolt operating devices operates through one of the openings of the bolt and acts on the bolt at the face thereof remote from the face of the casing at which the external force for operating the bolt is applied. Each of the cams 3% lies between one of the side faces of the bolt and the inside of the lock casing and is operatively connected with the keyhole-shaped cam turning device to which it is applied by fitting its keyholeshaped cutout about the cam turning device. In other words, there is no need of providing any fastening means for the cams 33 since they are confined between the bolt and the respective inside faces of the casing 2 so that they cannot lose their operative connection with the respective cam turning devices without disassembling the casing.

The bolt 21 is supported in the casing by the nuts 55 which lie within the openings and 28*, respectively, of the bolt. Normally the surfaces defining the tops of the openings 23 and 25 of the bolt ride upon the topmost surfaces of the nuts When the bolt is mounted as. a sliding boit it is supported by the nuts at virtually all times. When the bolt is mounted as a swinging or tilting bolt it is supported by the nuts 5d when in operative position. Actually it is also supported by the pin 57'; in the structure shown when the bolt when mounted as a swinging bolt is in operative position as shown in Figure 8 is supported by the pin and also by the two nuts 55. When the bolt is swung or tilted to inoperative position as shown in Figure 9 it rises out of contact with the nuts 55.

A tension coil spring 56 is applied between the bolt and the casing, having one end anchored to one of the pins of the bolt and the other end anchored to one of the projections 7 of the casing to normally urge the bolt toward operative position.

The parts may be assembled to provide a latch having a sliding latch bolt for a door hinged from either edge and swinging either inwardly or outwardly or a latch having a swinging or tilting latch bolt for a sliding door. Figures l7 and lb show a latch having a sliding latch bolt while Figures 8 9 show a latch having a swinging or tilting latch b lt. in the form of Figures 1-7 and 10 the latching tion 23 projects through the plate 17 and the bolt is sed toward operative position by anchoring the spring s between the pin 37 and the pro jection 7 at the lower front corner of the casing (the front of th 'ng being considered as the end at which the T is app-lied which is disposed at the edge of the r). 1 pi 57 passes through the upper opposed holes J at the ca." of the casing. The pin 57' is not always essential when the bolt is mounted for sliding movement and may in some instances be dispensed with. However, it restrains any tendency which the rear end (i. e., the left-hand end viewing Figures 6 and 7) of the bolt may have to rise during operation of the latch as the upper surface 58 of the portion 24 rides substantially against or very close to the bottom of the pin as the bolt moves back and forth. The pin is provided for use when the bolt is mounted as a swinging or tilting bolt as will presently appear and it is recommended that it be applied as shown in Figures 6 and 7 when the bolt is mounted as a sliding bolt although the latch may be operative if the pin is not so employed.

With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the bolt may be retracted by either of the cams 38. The left-hand cam 38 viewing Figures 6 and 7 is disposed at the face of the bolt nearer the eye, that being the face of the bolt from which the pin 36 projects. When the left-hand cam 38 is turned in the clockwise direction viewing Figures 6 and 7 the portion 380 thereof engages the pin 36 and retracts the bolt. The right-hand cam 38 viewing Figures 6 and 7 is disposed at the face of the bolt remote from the eye and when it is turned in the counterclockwise direction the portion 38a operates against the pin 35 to retract the bolt. When no force is being exerted against the bolt to retract it or hold it in retracted position spring 56 returns it to operative position.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, the bolt is shown in those figures as being mounted for swinging or tilting movement. A circular hole 59 is provided in the portion 23 of the bolt and the pin 57 is inserted through the hole 59 and the lower opposed holes at the rear of the casing as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the portion 24 of the bolt projecting through the plate 17. Thus the pin 57 holds the bolt against translatory movement in the cas ing but permits turning of the bolt about the pin as an axis. The spring 56 is anchored between the pin 37 and the projection 7 at the lower rear corner of the casing and tends to turn the bolt in the clockwise direction about the pivot pin 57, i. e., so as to draw downwardly the portion 24 of the bolt. The bolt may be turned in the counterclockwise direction viewing Figures 8 and 9 about the pivot pin 57 by either of the earns 38. For thus turning the bolt the pin 31 is utilized. When the lefthand cam 38 viewing Figures 8 and 9 is turned in the counterclockwise direction the portion 380. thereof engages beneath and forces upwardly the pin 31, thus swinging the bolt about the pivot pin 57 to raise the portion 24 thereof. Similarly when the right-hand cam 38 viewing Figures 8 and 9 is turned in the clockwise direction the portion 38d thereof engages beneath and forces upwardly the pin 31, thus swinging the bolt about the pivot pin 57 to raise the portion 24 thereof.

It will be understood that when closing the door it is unnecessary to operate the bolt except through the action thereon of the portion of the door frame (normally a strike plate attached to the door frame) which acts against the inclined face 25 or 26 of the bolt, depending upon whether the bolt is being used as a sliding bolt in a swinging door or as a swinging bolt in a sliding door, and after the door has closed the spring 56 will move the bolt to operative position to maintain the door closed until the bolt is retracted by one or the other of the bolt operating devices. Retraction of the swinging bolt means turning of it in the counterclockwise direction viewing Figures 8 and 9 about the pivot pin 57 so as to raise the hook portion 27 to a level above that of the cooperating portion of the strike plate.

Features disclosed but not claimed herein are disclosed and claimed in the application of William M. Ries, Serial No. 238,913, filed of even date herewith.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A latch comprising a casing and a bolt mounted in the casing selectively for generally rectilinear or angular movement, the bolt having a body and having latching portions connected with the body and projecting therefrom in opposite directions, one of the latching portions having a hook, the bolt and the casing having cooperating means whereby the bolt may be mounted in the casing for pivotal movement in the plane of the hook.

2. A latch comprising a casing and a bolt mounted in the casing selectively for generally rectilinear or angular movement, the bolt having latching portions projecting in opposite directions, one of the latching portions having a hook, the bolt being reversible end for-end in the casing, the casing having means cooperable with the bolt in each position of the bolt in the casing for pivotally mounting the bolt in the casing.

3. A latch comprising a casing, a bolt in the casing mounted therein selectively for generally rectilinear or angular movement and bolt operating means carried by the casing and engaging the bolt to operate the same, the bolt having means projecting into the path of movement of the bolt operating means whereby the bolt is operated upon movement of the bolt operating means whether the bolt is mounted in the casing for generally rectilinear movement or for angular movement.

4. A latch comprising a casing, a bolt in the casing mounted therein selectively for generally rectilinear or angular movement and two bolt operating devices carried by the casing and extending inwardly from opposite faces thereof respectively to engage and operate the bolt, each of said devices having means operating the bolt upon operation of the device when the bolt is mounted in the casing for generally rectilinear movement and means operating the bolt upon operation of the device when the bolt is mounted in the casing for angular movement.

5. A latch comprising a casing, a bolt in the casing mounted therein selectively for generally rectilinear or angular movement, the bolt being adapted to be positioned in the casing with either face of the bolt disposed toward either face of the casing whereby the latch may be adapted for application to doors mounted to be opened in different directions, and two bolt operating devices carried by the casing and extending inwardly from opposite faces thereof respectively to engage and operate the bolt in each of said positions in the casing and whether mounted in the casing for generally rectilinear or angular movement, each of said devices having means operating the bolt upon operation of the device when the bolt is mounted in the casing for generally rectilinear movement and means operating the bolt upon operation of the device when the bolt is mounted in the casing for angular movement.

6. A latch bolt comprising a body and latching portions connected with the body and projecting therefrom in opposite directions, the latching portions having respectively cam surfaces for camming back the bolt prior to operative projection thereof, one of the cam surfaces being disposed substantially in a vertical plane, the other cam surface being disposed substantially in a non-vertical p ane.

7. A latch bolt comprising a body and cam-faced latching portions connected with the body and projecting therefrom in opposite directions, one only of the latching portions having a hook, one of the cam faces being disposed substantially in a vertical plane, the other cam face being disposed substantially in a non-vertical plane.

8. A latch bolt comprising a body and cam-faced latching portions connected with the body and projecting therefrom in opposite directions, one only of the latching portions having a hook, the bolt having means remote from the hook for mounting the bolt for pivotal movement in the plane of the hook, one of the cam faces being disposed substantially in a vertical plane, the other cam face being disposed substantially in a non-vertical p ane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 48,297 McGonnigle June 20, 1865 248,847 Clime Nov. 1, 1881 284,743 Kroedel et a1 Sept. 11, 1883 327,373 Carnall et al. Sept. 29, 1885 420,285 St. Meyer Jan. 28, 1890 863,645 Reily Aug. 20, 1907 1,409,245 Segal Mar. 14, 1922 1,479,744 Salata Jan. 1, 1924 1,623,853 Rhodes Apr. 5, 1927 2,327,071 Schlage Aug. 17, 1943 2,426,141 Kell Aug. 19, 1947 

